BSNL or the Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited on Thursday rolled out a new facility for its users, Voice over Wifi (VoWoFi) or Wi-Fi calling, aiming to provide high quality connectivity even in adverse conditions. The service can be availed throughout all telecom circles from January 1, the beginning of New Year 2026. With VoWiFi, BSNL subscribers can make and receive voice calls and messages over any Wi-Fi network. The move is expected to improve call clarity and reliability in indoor spaces such as homes, offices and basements, as well as in remote and difficult-to-reach areas. The facility can be availed with no additional cost.The service is based on an IMS platform and allows uninterrupted handovers between Wi-Fi and mobile networks. Calls are placed through the regular phone dialler using the customer’s existing mobile number, removing the need for third-party applications. BSNL said the service will be especially beneficial for users living in rural and remote regions where mobile coverage is limited, as long as their is access to a stable Wi-Fi connection. This includes connectivity through BSNL Bharat Fiber and other broadband services. The Wi-fi calling feature is expected to reduce network congestion.This nationwide rollout is a part of the telecom giant’s effort to advance ongoing modernisation programme and focus on strengthening connectivity in underserved parts of the country.VoWiFi is supported on most modern smartphones, and customers can activate it by switching on the Wi-Fi Calling option in their device settings.

Tobacco products and pan masala products are set to face a new tax structure from February 1. This comes as the Centre rolls out additional excise duty and a health cess, above the current GST rates. The new structure will replace the compensation cess which is applied on ‘sin goods.’Tobacco and allied products will now attract an additional excise duty while pan masala will have a Health and National Security Cess. As per a government notification, pan masala, cigarettes, tobacco and similar products will be taxed at 40% under the Goods and Services Tax (GST) regime. Meanwhile, biris will attract an 18% GST rate. These GST rates will continue, but new levies will now be imposed separately. The finance ministry also notified the Chewing Tobacco, Jarda Scented Tobacco and Gutkha Packing Machines (Capacity Determination and Collection of Duty) Rules, 2026. The rules lay down the framework for determining production capacity and collecting duty from manufacturers of chewing tobacco and related products. The move follows Parliament’s approval in December of two Bills that cleared the way for the new cess on pan masala manufacturing and the excise duty on tobacco products. With the latest notification, the government has confirmed that the new levies will take effect from February 1, while the current GST compensation cess, levied at varying rates, will be discontinued from the same date.